Rouhani Slams US Decision to Retain $2Bln in Iranian Assets

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that the decision of the US Supreme Court to allow the use of some $2-billion worth of Iran's assets by victims of terrorist attacks is a "continuation of hostilities" against the Iranian nation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On April 20, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the legislation enacted in 2012 by the US Congress, allowing victims of alleged Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks and their families to collect about $2 billion in restitutions from the Central Bank of Iran. Tehran has already filed a protest on the move.

Rouhani was quoted as saying by Tehran Times newspaper that the court's decision was a "continuation of hostilities against the Iranian people."

He added that the seizure of assets was a "theft" and "legal scandal."

In 1984, the United States designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, accusing Tehran of funding and arming terrorist groups.

Washington accuses Iran of contribution to a number of terrorist attacks, including truck bombing at a Marine compound in the Lebanese capital of Beirut in 1983 that claimed the lives of 241 US service personnel, including 220 Marines.